Arthur is face of baking campaign

A Sheffield boy, who had pioneering surgery while in the womb, is fronting a new campaign for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Seven-year-old Arthur Fountain is the face of The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Bake It Better Day, and is calling on families, colleagues, groups and individuals to get baking and raise some serious dough on June 29, for the hospital where he still receives regular treatment.

Each year, 204,817 from Sheffield - and another 260,000 children from all over the world - visit the hospital for specialist treatment. Thurgoland Primary pupil, Arthur, is one of those children, after needing surgery on his windpipe to enable him to breathe.

His mum Michelle said: “When I had my 20 week scan they noticed a growth on his neck. We knew when he was born he was going to need this surgery because the tumour was crushing his windpipe. He wouldn’t have been able to breathe.”

Doctors successfully inserted a tracheostomy in tiny baby Arthur while just his head and shoulders had been delivered by ceasarean section. The tracheostomy means he is able to breathe, but he needs round-the-clock care to ensure it doesn’t become blocked or stop working. He has since had six operations on his windpipe at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where doctors hope he will one day be able to breathe without the device.

On June 29, The Children’s Hospital Charity wants people across the region to join them for a day of baking in aid of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, to help fund life-changing treatments.